Texas A&M freshman guard Jamal Branch surprised coach Billy Kennedy on Thursday when he came into his office and announced he was leaving the team immediately and planned to transfer.

Branch, a top-65 prospect from Arlington, Texas, had averaged 4.2 points and 2.5 assists in 18.6 minutes per game as the primary backup to senior point guard Dash Harris. He has a career-high 10 points in a loss to Mississippi State in mid-November.

Freshman Jamal Branch didn't last long with the Aggies. (AP Photo)

“Jamal Branch and his father decided to look at some other options and transfer,” Kennedy told reporters Thursday night after the Aggies' 76-58 win over Division II Arkansas Tech. “We wish him the best.

"To lose a player today and just keep going and play as well as we did at times was good."

Branch’s father, Jerome, told Scout.com that his son has not formed a list of possible destinations.

The departure leaves Texas A&M thin in the backcourt because Harris now is the team's lone ball-handler. That could mean that shooting guard Elston Turner, the team's second-leading scorer, could have to spend some time on the point to spell Harris.